Tune-in Tuesday: Episode 90
Episode 90
Linda Sistrunk, Lish Greiner, & Kim Kaler
Step by Step, Bit by Bit: How Two Women Created a Community of Love for 30+ Children
What started as children visiting friends turned into something extraordinary. Linda Sistrunk and Lish Greiner never intended to become unofficial foster parents. But when children in their community needed safety, love, and stability, their home became a haven.
Over the years, more than 30 children have found refuge in their converted six-bedroom house. Some stayed for days, others for years. All were loved unconditionally.
The Reality Behind the Love
In our latest episode of The Anna Jinja Show, Linda and Lish share the unvarnished truth about what it really means to open your heart and home to children in crisis. Their story is beautiful, messy, and deeply human.
The Challenges Were Real
This wasn't a fairy tale. The couple faced:
Complex family dynamics: Each child came with their own network of biological family members, each with different needs and circumstance.
Marriage strain: "We had a lot of conflict together," Linda admits honestly. "We had to work extremely hard. We've done a lot of therapy. We've done some time apart."
The Music That Captures It All
Singer-songwriter Kim Kaler's "Scarf Song" provides the perfect soundtrack to their story. The gentle melody and lyrics about patience, trust, and building something meaningful "step by step, bit by bit" mirror the slow, careful work of creating belonging.
"Your heart has its own security detail,
And your mind has a lock.
You're sure won't fail,
I don't wanna push, I don't wanna rush
Anything
But I sure wish you would stay."
The song captures the delicate balance of welcoming someone while respecting their need to move at their own pace—exactly what Linda and Lish did with each child who entered their home.
What We Can Learn
Their story offers profound lessons for anyone wanting to make a difference:
1. Love Without Conditions
"There was very little expectation that they gave back to us," Linda explains. "Their job was not to make us feel loved. We never really felt that they needed to prove to us that they were thankful."
2. Honor the Whole Family
Rather than judging the biological parents, Linda and Lish worked with them, respecting their struggles while providing stability for the children.
3. Marriage Requires Intentionality
The couple's honest discussion about how their service nearly destroyed their relationship—and how they fought to rebuild it—offers hope for anyone whose marriage has been tested by external pressures.
The Power of Ordinary Love
What strikes me most about Linda and Lish's story is how ordinary it is. They're not wealthy philanthropists or trained professionals (though Linda is a social worker). They're simply two people who saw need and responded with love.
"We always knew that the love we had for one another was based upon caring for our community," Linda reflects. "We always knew that we had a higher purpose than what just she and I were doing together."
Their message is clear: You don't need to be perfect to make a difference. You don't need to save anyone. You just need to be willing to love, step by step, bit by bit.
Be prepared for tears, inspiration, and a renewed faith in the power of love to transform communities.
What would your community look like if more people simply opened their doors? What would your life look like if you took just one step toward creating belonging for someone who needs it?
The answers might surprise you.